My parents never told us about Santa. I first heard about him at daycare, and I was like “Yeah, my presents come from my mom and dad. Thanks.”

They always said it was because they didn’t want to lie to us. Which makes sense. If your parents lie to you for the first 5/10 years of your life about a fictional character, why would you trust them about something that actually matters?

Amanda

Because it’s SANTA.

Nancy

I never believed in the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy. But my parents were verrry careful about me not finding out about Santa; they used to keep my presents in my grandparents basement and would wait until I fell asleep to go get them and put them under the tree, no matter how late that was.

I think I was about 8 when my friend Amanda told me that she and her sister found all of their wrapped presents, tagged ‘From Santa’ in her parents closet. I still couldn’t believe it. I asked my mom and she said it was true; there is no Santa. I cried my eyes out, then I begged her to tell me it was all a joke and that he really was real even though I knew the truth now. She said it just because I asked her to and then hugged me as a continued crying like crazy for about an hour.

My brother found out when he was a little kid when he tried to figure out how Santa could visit every kid in the world in one night. He even adjusted for time zones. Way to set the bar for me, bro.

I wonder how the internet has changed it for kids?

Holly

I’m pretty sure I was starting to get the idea already but in third grade my teacher announced to the class, out of the blue, “I hate to burst your bubbles but there is no Santa.” I remember the boy that I had a crush on started bawling. Everyone else just kind of shuffled about in their seats until she went on to our craft project of making porcupines on popsicle sticks.

Samantha

I don’t know how I found out, but I remember I held on to the belief for a long time even after I had an inkling. But it all came crashing down one night before Christmas. I was apparently really mad at my mom (for what I don’t remember) and I stormed up the stairs stomping to my room. When I got there, I yelled at the top of my lungs “I know you guys area Santa!!!” and slammed my door. It was probably the most hilarious temper tantrum ever.

I’m 22 now though (and my youngest sibling is 18) and Santa still comes to our house.

Fabel

I think I was a half-step away from being embarrassingly old when I found out, like maybe 9 or ten? And I guess I worryingly gave no signs of skepticism because I remember it was my mom who decided to plant a seed by pointing out how similiar Santa’s handwriting was to my grandma’s. And even after that, I still believed in the Easter bunny and tooth fairy with an air of desperation (“BUT-BUT-BUT *crying* THOSE THINGS ARE REAL RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH SANTA’S NOT? RIGHT????”)

Arnie

I don’t think I ever had a sudden revelation about Santa, so much as a gradual realisation. I definitely knew when I started school, because Santa was afar more stingy with our presents than my friends. Clearly if Santa really did exist, he would give all kids equal amounts of gifts, right? My mother has always been of the opinion that Santa shouldn’t get all the credit for her hard work of figuring out what to get everyone.

To this day we do still do small stockings for everyone, as a way to give the early risers some chocolate to dig into before everyone is up and about (and home) for presents.

I must have definitely believed at some point, because at the age of about three, we were going to be staying at my uncle’s farm, and I was terrified that Santa wouldn’t know where we were, and not be able to give us our presents. My mum still has the note I insisted on taping to the window, explaining where we were.

Lily

As a child, I had a very overactive imagination — I remember not only *believing* in fairies, but legitimately believing *I* was a fairy until about fourth grade. So I definitely believed in magic, and probably held onto the Santa thing a lot longer then most kids (even, to explain the “parents handwriting on the label” thing, coming to the conclusion that he drops off the presents ahead of time and parents wrap them!) But there was definitely not a Santa “moment”, just a gradual giving up. Part of me still wants to hang on, just a little. Hey, why not?(:

Kayla

When I was 9 I was looking for the Top Ramen in the kitchen, and found a plastic bag in one of the cupboards. It was full of Easter candy and Lip Smackers and that disgusting plastic grass that always manages to stick to the bottom of your feet and NEVER COME OFF. That’s when I knew it was all a sham. When I told my mom she said, “The minute you tell me you don’t believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny, they’re not bringing you treats anymore!” So I kept my mouth shut, because I really wanted that watermelon lip balm.

M

I have no idea how my parents pulled it off, but they managed to have me believe in Santa as more of an idea than an actual person who would come down the chimney without me feeling cheated. I knew Mom and Dad were Santa [and the Tooth Fairy], but that didn’t stop Dad from writing his letters from the point of view of imaginary characters with little doodles in the margins and everything [which he still does even though my brother and I are 28 and 26; I still love it]. They also used the letters as a corny sort of teaching tool: after all, Santa keeps track of the naughty and nice, so ‘Santa’ would highlight the things we did that made our parents proud and the things we could stand to improve on over the course of the next year. I grew up with the idea that parents being Santa was a holiday tradition, so I got to have the fun without the traumatic realization that everything I thought I knew was a lie. Score!

Rebekah Mae

My parents didn’t kill Santa for me, my older step brother did when I was about 3 1/2 or 4 years old. I was going to take a picture with Santa and right before I left the house with my mom, my brother leaned over and told me to go and pull santa’s beard down when I sat on his lap. That about killed it for me. But then again it wasn’t devastating since I didn’t believe in the easter bunny at all, or leprechauns on St. Paddys day.

Jaclyn

I was 7 and my siblings were 9 and 6. My dad is a deadbeat and my mom was on her own, and that Christmas she couldn’t afford to buy us gifts, so she told us Santa wasn’t real because she didn’t want us to think we were bad and didn’t deserve presents. It sucked, but in the end my mom pulled it out and got us each a few toys.

I was skeptical about Santa from the time I could talk. At 5 & 6 years old the letters from Santa I received looked just like my grandmother & father’s writing. I called them both out on it but they held strong with the Santa thing. At age 7 I wrote Santa a note saying I needed proof he existed… a photo of him in front of our Christmas tree (I even left my polaroid camera out for him to use). The letter I got Christmas morning had no picture with it and the explanation that he was like an angel, so he wouldn’t show up in the picture. I took the letter hopped into my dad’s lap, held his face with both my hands and said “I know he’s not real but you could’ve at least dressed up like Santa and taken a picture.” He laughed and said just don’t tell your little sister. When we went back to school I was so proud I had finally figured the whole Santa thing out, I told all my friends he wasn’t real. My mom had to pick me up from school early that day. I think I made a boy cry too.

Crystal

I believed in Santa until I was 10 or 11. This is when I discovered gifts hiding out in my parent’s closet! I stuck with family tradition on this one and shared the magic of Santa with my children. My youngest figured out several years ago that Santa is really Mom. Now he insists on calling me Santa! Somehow this has rolled over to me representing Santa online at http://bizabacus.com/santa. If you happen to stop by, feel free to leave your wish list. :)

Shae

THERE IS NO SANTA??? Thanks a lot, TheGloss. Thanks. A lot.

Timmy

I found out when i was about 31/2. 3 days before Christmas I found boxes of presents in my parents closet. I never told them I know he’s not real but I think they know. I’m 10 and 1/2 now and its just something that reminds me of all the good times I had believing in him. I kinda wish I still did. I didn’t cry when I found out but it’s depressing just thinking about it.

Delisabel

i stop beliving in him when i was 4

Ivan

i believe in santa clause course he is real i saw him on youtube and in real life